this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2024
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Maybe a decade of decades. But it'll eventually get there.
There's too much infrastructure based on even units in imperial that would "turn into" a partial digit if forced to stay the same.
Example. 1/2"wrench would be the same as a 12.7mm wrench. And a 1/2-13 bolt would be a M12.7x1.9532 bolt.
That stupid conversion makes no sense, so we just use both. Eventually as we replace imperial infrastructure with metric, we'll use more and more metric, and less imperial. Until eventually it's all metric. Though a common structural lumber will likely still be called a "2 by 4" even though it's measurements would theoretically be 35mm X 85mm. And nobody will remember why.
Yeah, 2x4s aren't even 2"x4" anymore, more like 1.5"x3.5", but the name has still stuck.
that has nothing to do with metric vs imperial:
"Lumber manufacturers typically cut a tree into the various standard types of dimensional lumber very shortly after the tree is felled. At this point, the 2 x 4 is actually 2 inches x 4 inches, a 2 x 10 is actually 2 inches x 10 inches, etc. But then the newly-sawn (but soaking wet) lumber is then kiln-dried until it reaches the desired moisture level. During this process, it shrinks as the moisture in the wood is removed and the wood cells shrink. Once the drying is complete, the boards are then planed to a standard size. Hence, what started out as a 2 x 4 now measures 1 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches."
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/why-isnt-a-2x4-a-2x4-3970461
And you sometimes get people ordering lumber for the first time giving bad reviews because they feel they've been cheated out of some wood.
Yep, just an example of how names don't necessarily correspond to the actual dimensions.
Well a first step would be to stop producing bolts in ".
Other than that leaves a huge market for SAE spec bolts for use in maintaining the already imperial equipment. As it's more cost effective to repair up to a point. So some company WILL produce those bolts.
Which is why we're here with both types of units, and why it'll be 100+yrs before imperial actually dies.
If asteroid mining takes off we're gonna be unloading TEUs in space ports